Applicator assembly for a cosmetic product

ABSTRACT

An applicator assembly for a cosmetic product capable of occupying two positions including an opened position and a closed position is described herein. The applicator assembly includes a bottle without a neck, a wiper intended to scrape the excess cosmetic product from an applicator, and assembly means including at least one positioning means and at least one means for retaining the wiper in position on the bottle, the assembly means being intended to interact, at the proximal end of the bottle, so as to prevent a withdrawal movement of the wiper when the applicator passes into the bottle. As well, the inner surface of the wiper is designed to be in direct contact with the applicator when the applicator assembly passes from an opened position to a closed position and the wiper includes the assembly means.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to FrenchPatent Application Serial Number 1656055, filed Jun. 29, 2016, theentire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an applicator assembly for positioning andretaining a wiper in a bottle without a neck, the bottle being intendedto contain a cosmetic product and more particularly, to an applicatorassembly for a flexible wiper.

Statement of the Related Art

Cosmetic product applicator assemblies are known that include anapplicator which is capable of being detachably attached to a bottlecontaining the cosmetic product.

The bottle generally includes a cap and a body.

The cap is capable of being attached to the body of the bottle in such away as to ensure sealed closure of a cosmetic product container locatedinside the body of the bottle.

As regards the body, it generally includes two regions, namely a bottomregion and a throat region.

The bottom region has walls delimiting a container which contains thecosmetic product. The body is closed in the region of a first end,referred to as the distal end, by a bottom wall, and opened in theregion of a second end, referred to as the proximal end, opposite thefirst end. The body further includes a side wall that is positionedbetween the distal and proximal ends so as to completely delimit thecontainer.

The throat region defines an opening through which the cosmetic productcan be removed. The opening in the body of the bottle is located in thethroat region and therefore in the vicinity of the proximal end. Thisregion generally includes opening and closing means, these means beingcapable of cooperating with complementary opening and closing meanslocated in the region of the cap in order to attach and close the cap ina sealed manner on the body of the bottle. When the throat region hascross-sectional dimensions that are smaller than those of the crosssection of the bottom region of the body of the bottle, it is referredto as a neck of the bottle. In other words, there is a neck when thedimensions of the throat region are reduced compared with the dimensionsof the bottom region.

In order to prevent the applicator from being overloaded with cosmeticproduct, the bottle further includes a rigid or flexible wiper that isattached in the region of the neck and extends towards the inside of thecontainer. When the user inserts the applicator into the containerand/or removes it therefrom, the applicator slides within the wiper. Thewiper thus scrapes the excess cosmetic product from the rod and theapplicator end piece. The wiper therefore makes it possible to controlthe amount of product which is on the applicator end piece and preventsan excessive amount of cosmetic product from being applied to theapplication surface.

Nowadays, wipers and particularly flexible wipers are held in place inthe region of the neck by various attachment means on both sides in theregion of the neck, the wiper and the bottle itself.

However, bottles which do not have a neck do exist. For these bottleswithout a neck, it proves difficult to position and retain the wiper inplace in the throat region. Indeed, the absence of a neck would removeseveral attachment points required for positioning and retaining thewiper in place in the throat region of the bottle. The absence of theseattachment points may in particular cause the wiper to move and moreparticularly to rise up into the throat region of the bottle when theapplicator is removed from the bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the objects of the invention is therefore to position and retaina wiper in place in a bottle without a neck.

The invention therefore relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmeticproduct, the assembly being capable of occupying two positions, anopened position and a closed position. The applicator assembly includesa bottle without a neck. The bottle includes a body intended to containthe cosmetic product, and extends in a main direction of longitudinalextension, referred to as the main direction. The body includes a firstend, referred to as the distal end, and an opposite second end in themain direction, referred to as the proximal end, and includes a sidewall positioned between the distal end and the proximal end, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface. The assembly alsoincludes a wiper including a wiping hole and intended to scrape theexcess cosmetic product from an applicator via the wiping hole when theapplicator assembly passes from the closed position to the openedposition, the wiper having an outer and an inner surface.

The assembly yet further includes assembly means consisting of at leastone positioning means and at least one means for retaining the wiper inposition on the bottle, the assembly means being intended to interact,at the proximal end of the bottle, so as to prevent a withdrawalmovement of the wiper when the applicator passes into the bottle.

According to the invention, the inner surface of the wiper is designedto be in direct contact with the applicator when the applicator assemblypasses from an opened position to a closed position.

The applicator assembly according to the invention makes it possible toposition and retain a wiper, more particularly a standard type of wiper,on a bottle without a neck. This means that, despite the absence of aneck on bottles for cosmetic products, it is possible to position andretain a standard wiper in place such that it can correctly function asan applicator wiper, i.e. it can scrape excess cosmetic product from theapplicator when it is being removed from the container of the bottle,without however the wiper leaving the bottle.

Indeed, when they interact with the proximal end of the bottle, theassembly means (otherwise known as the “attachment means”) positioned onthe wiper, in particular the positioning means and the means forretaining the wiper in position, make it possible to position and retainthe wiper in place in the bottle without a neck. Therefore, theinvention makes it possible to prevent a withdrawal movement of thewiper when the applicator passes into the bottle.

The expression “positioned on the wiper” means that the assembly means,in particular the positioning means and the means for retaining thewiper in position, are integral parts of the wiper. In other words, theassembly means are integral with the structure of the wiper itself, andform just one single part with the wiper. In other words again, theassembly means are formed in one piece with the wiper. Again, in otherwords, the assembly means are not additional and separate parts of thewiper that need to be attached and/or bonded in order to ensure that thewiper is positioned and/or retained in position in the bottle without aneck. Again, in other words, the wiper includes the assembly means.

“Withdrawal movement of the wiper” means that the unit formed by thewiper and the assembly means is withdrawn from the bottle when theapplicator is passing into the bottle. In other words, this is not justa withdrawal of some of the structural elements of the wiper, inparticular fins which are initially oriented towards the bottom of thebottle and would be folded towards the opening in the bottle when theapplicator is passing therethrough.

According to various embodiments of the invention, which can be takentogether or separately:

-   -   the wiper is a flexible wiper,    -   the positioning means and the means for retaining the wiper in        position are separate from one another,    -   the positioning means is a flange on the upper part of the wiper        intended to interact with the proximal end of the bottle, and        the position-retaining means is in the form of at least two fins        projecting in the region of the wiping hole, the two fins being        intended to be folded over between the outer surface of the        wiper and the inner surface of the bottle in order to ensure        that the wiper is retained in position in the bottle,    -   the position-retaining means is a flange on the upper part of        the wiper intended to interact with the proximal end of the        bottle, and the position-retaining means has at least one        technical shaping projecting on the outer surface of the wiper,        this technical shaping being complementary to at least one        aperture positioned on the top of the proximal end of the body        of the bottle,    -   the flange is circular,    -   the positioning means and the means for retaining the wiper in        position are combined,    -   the positioning means and the position-retaining means are in        the form of a fin that both rests on the upper part of the wiper        and includes a curved end, the curved end being intended to        interact with a complementary part provided in the region of the        outer surface of the side wall of the body of the bottle,    -   the assembly means is a threaded/tapped assembly to allow the        wiper to be screwed to the proximal end of the bottle,    -   when this is a threaded/tapped assembly, the threading is        located on the outer surface of the wiper and is intended to        interact with the tapping located on the inner surface of the        side wall of the body of the bottle,    -   the position-retaining means is in the form of an intermediate        part intended to press and wedge the wiper against the inner        surface of the side wall of the body of the bottle,    -   the body of the bottle is in two parts, the two parts, namely a        head and a trunk, being separate parts,    -   the body of the bottle is in two parts, the two parts, namely a        head and a trunk, being made of different materials,    -   when the bottle is in two parts, the two parts are joined        together by welding or clipping,    -   a seal is provided between the two parts, i.e. between the head        and the trunk,    -   when the bottle is in two parts, the wiper is positioned in the        region of the head of the bottle.

The invention also relates to a cosmetic product applicator assembly mayinclude:

an applicator, and

a cap, intended to keep the cosmetic product applicator inside the bodywhen the bottle is in the closed position.

The invention will be better understood, and its other aims, details,features and advantages will become clearer in the following detailedexplanatory description of at least one embodiment of the inventiongiven as a purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with referenceto the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a longitudinal sectional view through a bottle body knownfrom the prior art, the bottle body comprising a neck,

FIG. 1b is a longitudinal sectional view through a bottle body accordingto the invention, the bottle body not comprising a neck,

FIG. 1c is a longitudinal sectional view through an applicator assemblyaccording to the invention, comprising a wiper as shown in FIGS. 2a and2b , supplemented with an applicator and a cap,

FIG. 2a is a slightly inclined perspective isometric view of a firstexample of a wiper according to the invention, while FIG. 2b is alongitudinal sectional view through a first embodiment of the applicatorassembly according to the invention,

FIGS. 3a to 9a are slightly inclined perspective isometric views ofadditional examples of a wiper according to the invention, while FIGS.3b to 9b are longitudinal sectional views through additional embodimentsof the applicator assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As regards the different structures and their reference signs in thedrawings, the same reference numeral will be used for each identicalstructure. However, this reference sign will be preceded by a differentmultiple of one hundred depending on the embodiment. For example, theapplicator assembly is denoted by 100 in FIG. 1b , 200 in FIG. 2b , 300in FIG. 3b , and so on, and the same applies to all the structures anddrawings.

FIG. 1a shows a bottle F from the prior art. In a general manner, thisbottle F includes a body that is intended to contain a cosmetic product.This body extends in a main direction of longitudinal extension X₁ andhas a bottom wall at one of its ends, an opening (defined by what isknown as a bottle throat) at the opposite end in the main direction, anda side wall positioned between the two ends. The body further includesshoulders E, i.e. a reduction in the dimensions of the in the region ofthe upper part thereof, so as to make it possible to form a neck G towhich a cap (not shown) will be attached using opening and closing meanslocated on the neck G and on the cap. In other words, the upper part ofthe body of the bottle F from the prior art is provided with a shoulderE that makes it possible to thus reduce the dimensions d₁′ of theopening in the bottle F compared with the dimensions D₁′ of the body andto thus form the neck G (d₁′<D₁′).

The invention itself relates to an applicator assembly 100 for acosmetic product P that is capable of occupying two positions, an openedposition and a closed position.

“Opened position” means the position that the applicator assemblyoccupies when a cap 90 is detached from a body 112 of the bottle 110without a neck. In contrast, “closed position” means the position thatthe bottle occupies when the cap 90 is attached to the body 112 of thebottle 110 without a neck.

The applicator assembly 100 includes a bottle 110 without a neck.

A bottle 110 “without a neck” means that, by contrast with the standard,above-described bottles from the prior art, the body 112 of the bottle110 without a neck does not include a shoulder in the region of theupper part, or in other words in the region of its throat Z_(c), asshown in FIG. 1b . Taking the specific example of a body 112 and throat111 of a bottle without a neck that are each cylindrical in the maindirection X₃ and have a circular cross section, the diameter d₁ of thethroat 111 will have the same dimensions as the diameter D₁ of the body112 of the bottle 110 (d₁=D₁). In other words, the dimension of thecircular cross section of the throat 111 will be constant and notnarrowed over the entire upper part of the body 112, also referred to asthe throat region Z_(c), of the bottle 110 without a neck. The bottleaccording to the invention advantageously does not include a neck.

According to the invention, the bottle 110 without a neck includes abody 112 that is generally intended to contain a cosmetic product P. Asshown in FIG. 1b , the body 112 of the bottle 110 without a neck extendsin a main direction of longitudinal extension, referred to as the maindirection and denoted by X₃ in FIG. 1b to 9b (the axis X₂ merges withthe axis X₃ when the wiper is positioned so as to be mounted in the bodyof the bottle). In order to delimit the container (not shown), which,more precisely, contains the cosmetic product P, the body 112 has abottom wall at a first end, referred to as a distal end 113, an opening(defined by the throat 111 of the bottle 110) at a second opposite endin the main direction, referred to as the proximal end 114, and a sidewall 115 positioned between the distal end 113 and the proximal end 114,the side wall 115 having an outer surface 116 and an inner surface 117.

The body 112 is advantageously a rigid part. “Rigid” means unable to bedeformed either by atmospheric pressure or by a force exerted by thefingers of a user. The cross section of the body can be of any shape, inparticular polygonal or circular. Preferably, the cross section thereofis circular.

The body 112 is, for example, based on a plastics material, inparticular polypropylene. The body is formed, in particular, by means ofinjection or injection blow moulding. The body can be decorated, inparticular by means of metallisation or by other means.

Two general regions can be defined on the body 112 of the bottle 110without a neck: a throat region Z_(c) or upper part of the body or head,located closer to the proximal end of the body of the bottle, and abottom region Z_(f) or lower part of the body or trunk, located closerto the distal end of the body of the bottle. The throat region Z_(c)generally includes opening and closing means 118 intended to interactwith complementary means on a cap so as to open and close the bottle 110without a neck, as shown in FIG. 1b . In a variant, the opening andclosing means 119 on the body 112 of the bottle 110 without a neck maybe located in the bottom region Z_(f) of the bottle or, in other words,at a distance from the throat region Z_(c).

The throat region Z_(c) and the bottom region Z_(f) may be formed in onepiece from plastics material (see FIGS. 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b and 6b ). In avariant, the throat region Z_(c) and the bottom region Z_(f) may beformed by separate parts and then joined together by welding orclipping, with a seal being inserted between the two parts (see FIGS.7b, 8b and 9b ).

As shown in FIG. 1c , the applicator assembly 100 also includes a wiper120 (shown here by the wiper from the embodiment in FIGS. 2a and 2b )comprising a wiping hole 122, the wiper 120 being intended to scrape theexcess cosmetic product P from an applicator 80, via the wiping hole122, when the bottle passes from the closed position to the openedposition. Indeed, in order to prevent the applicator 80 from beingoverloaded with cosmetic product P, the applicator assembly 100 includesa wiper 120 that is attached to the proximal end 114 of the body 112 andextends towards the inside of the container.

When the user removes the applicator 80 from the container, theapplicator 80 slides through the wiper 120. The wiper, via its wipinghole 122, scrapes excess cosmetic product P from the applicator, i.e.from a rod 82 and an applicator end piece 84 attached thereto. The wiper120 thus makes it possible to control the amount of product which ispresent on the applicator end piece 84 and prevents an excessive amountof cosmetic product P from being applied to the application surface.

The wiper 120 has an outer surface 124 and an inner surface 126.According to the invention, the inner surface of the wiper 120 isdesigned to be in direct contact with the applicator when the bottlepasses from the opened position to the closed position, or vice versa.In other words, the outer surface 124 and inner surface 126 are twofaces of the same part, which has a single thickness, this being thethickness of the material that forms the wiper. In other words again,the wiper 120 is a single mechanical part, produced to have just onematerial thickness.

Advantageously, the wiper is “flexible”. “Flexible” means that the wiperis relatively malleable and can potentially fold and deform easily,whether this is before it is inserted into the throat region Z_(c) ofthe bottle, at the point of insertion or when the applicator is passingtherethrough. In contrast, the “rigid” wiper is inserted by force intothe throat region Z_(c) of the bottle such that it can no longer bedeformed at all thereafter. Therefore, the present invention providesfewer advantages for the “rigid” wiper, given its nature.

The applicator assembly 100 also includes assembly means consisting ofat least one positioning means and at least one means for retaining thewiper 120 in position on the bottle 110, the assembly means beingintended to interact, at the proximal end 114 of the bottle 110, so asto prevent a withdrawal movement of the wiper 120 when the applicator 80passes into the bottle 110.

The assembly means, in particular the positioning means and the meansfor retaining the wiper 120 in position, are integral parts of the wiper120. In other words, the assembly means are integral with the structureof the wiper itself, and form just one single part with the wiper. Inother words again, the assembly means are formed in one piece with thewiper. Again, in other words, the assembly means are not additional andseparate parts of the wiper that need to be attached and/or bonded inorder to ensure that the wiper is positioned and/or retained in positionin the bottle 110 without a neck. Again, in other words, the wiperincludes the assembly means. Since the assembly means are directlyintegrated in the wiper, this reduces the number of parts and theproduction costs of the applicator assembly.

The positioning means and the means for retaining the wiper in positionmay be separate from one another.

In a first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b , the positioningmeans is a flange 230 on the upper part of the wiper 220 intended tointeract with the proximal end 214 of the bottle, and theposition-retaining means is in the form of at least two fins 232projecting in the region of the wiping hole 222, the two fins 232 beingintended to be folded over between the outer surface 224 of the wiperand the inner surface 217 of the bottle in order to ensure that thewiper 220 is retained in position in the bottle 210.

As the position-retaining means, the number of fins 232 may vary. Thisnumber may be between two and eight. More preferably, this number isfive, as shown in FIG. 2 a.

At rest, the fins 232 extend radially relative to the main axis. Thediameter formed by the fins 232 at rest is greater than that of theflange 230 of the wiper 220.

In a second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b , theposition-retaining means is a flange 340 on the upper part of the wiper320 intended to interact with the proximal end 314 of the bottle, andthe position-retaining means has at least one technical shaping 342projecting on the outer surface 324 of the wiper 320, this technicalshaping 342 being complementary to at least one aperture 344 positionedon the top of the proximal end 314 of the body 312 of the bottle 310.

The technical shaping 342 is a bead of material. At the point at whichthe wiper 320 is inserted into the bottle 310, the bead of material isclipped by force into the aperture 344 positioned at the proximal end314 of the body 312 of the bottle 310 such that the wiper 320 isretained in position and can no longer come out of the aperture 344again.

Advantageously, the flange in the first and second embodiments iscircular.

The positioning means and the means for retaining the wiper in positioncan also be combined. In other words, the positioning means and themeans for retaining the wiper in position are the same part. In otherwords again, the same piece is used both as a positioning means and as aposition-retaining means.

In a third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b , the positioningmeans and the position-retaining means are in the form of a fin 450 thatboth rests on the upper part of the wiper 420 and includes a curved end452, the curved end 452 being intended to interact with a complementarypart 454 provided in the region of the outer surface 416 of the sidewall of the body 412 of the bottle 410.

The curved end 452 is advantageously flexible so as to fit closely tothe complementary part 454 or groove provided in the region of the outersurface 416 of the side wall of the body 412 of the bottle 410.

In a fourth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b , the assembly meansis a threaded/tapped assembly 560 to allow the wiper 520 to be screwedto the proximal end 514 of the bottle 510. Indeed, in this embodiment,the threading 562 is located on the outer surface 524 of the wiper 520and is intended to interact with the tapping 564 located on the innersurface 517 of the side wall of the body of the bottle 510.

In a fifth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b , theposition-retaining means is in the form of an intermediate part 670intended to press and wedge the wiper 620 against the inner surface 617of the side wall of the body 612 of the bottle 610. More particularly,the wiper 620 is first positioned at the proximal end 614 of the body612 of the bottle 610, or in other words in the throat region Zc.Indeed, a flange 630 makes it possible to seat the wiper 620 at theproximal end 614 of the body 612 of the bottle 610. Once the wiper 620is positioned, it is retained in position by being wedged against theinner surface 617 of the bottle 610 by means of an intermediate part670, the intermediate part being in contact with the inner surface 626of the wiper 620.

The intermediate part 670 may be made of any type of material having arigidity that allows the wiper 620 to be wedged against the innersurface 617 of the bottle 610. This material also has to be compatiblewith the cosmetic product P, since when the applicator 80 passes thepart, this material is in contact with the cosmetic product P. Inparticular, the intermediate part 670 may be made of plastics material,such as polyoxymethylene (POM) or polypropylene (PP).

The present invention may also be adapted to bottles of which the bodyis designed in two parts. As shown in FIGS. 7b, 8b and 9b , the body712, 812, 912 of the bottle 710, 810, 910 is in two parts; the twoparts, a head Z_(c) and a trunk Z_(f), are separate parts.

When the body of the bottle is in two parts, the two parts, namely ahead and a trunk, may be made of different materials. Bi-injection maybe used to manufacture bottles having this type of two-part design.

When the bottle 710, 810, 910 is in two parts, the two parts are joinedtogether by welding or clipping. Advantageously, a seal (not shown) isprovided between the two parts, i.e. between the head Z_(c) and thetrunk Z_(f).

When the bottle is in two parts, the wiper 720, 820, 920 is positionedin the region of the head Z_(c) of the bottle.

More particularly, FIGS. 7a and 7b show an applicator assembly 700 inwhich the wiper 720 is positioned and retained in position in the regionof the head Z_(c) of the bottle 710 as a result of it being obtained byovermoulding or bi-injection. Once the overmoulding or bi-injection ofthe wiper 720 and the head Z_(c) of the bottle has taken place, the headZ_(c) is joined to the trunk Z_(f) of the bottle 710 by welding orclipping, as described above.

FIGS. 8a and 8b show an applicator assembly 800 of which the positioningmeans is a flange 873 on the upper part of the wiper 820 intended tointeract with the proximal end 814 of the bottle, and theposition-retaining means has at least one circular groove 874 made inthe outer surface 824 of the wiper 820, this groove 874 receiving acomplementary circular protrusion 875 positioned on the inner surface817 of the side wall 815 of the head Z_(c) of the body 812 of thebottle, in order to thus ensure that the wiper 820 is retained inposition in the bottle 810.

FIGS. 9a and 9b shown an applicator assembly 900 of which thepositioning means is the interaction between at least one longitudinalgroove 976 and at least one technical shaping 977. The longitudinalgroove 976 extends in the main direction X₃ on the inner surface 917 ofthe side wall 915 of the head Z_(c) of the body of the bottle 910, whilethe technical shaping 977 projects on the outer surface 924 of the wiper920. The groove 976 is therefore intended to interact with the technicalshaping 977 in order to position the wiper 920 on the bottle. Theposition-retaining means is located in the end position of the technicalshaping 977 in the groove 976. Indeed, in the end position, the wiper ismanipulated in order to bring about rotation. This also results inrotation of the technical shaping 977, such that the shaping remainswedged against a stop 978, the stop 978 protruding from the extension ofthe inner surface 917 of the side wall 915 of the head Z_(c) of the bodyof the bottle. Therefore, the interaction of the technical shaping 977with the stop 978 ensures that the wiper 920 is retained in position inthe bottle. In other words, this is a rotating bayonet system.

The wiper, which is in particular made of rubber, is also designed so asto interact with the cap 90 in order to ensure sealed closure of thebottle 110 in the closed position. More particularly, sealing of thebottle is ensured by the compression of the wiper between the proximalend 114 of the body 112 and the cap 90 in the closed position of thebottle 110.

The invention also relates to an applicator assembly 100 for cosmeticproduct P, further comprising an applicator 80, and a cap 90, intendedto keep the cosmetic product applicator 80 inside the body 112 when thebottle 110 is in the closed position (FIG. 10).

The cap 90 can be manipulated by a user and is intended to keep acosmetic product applicator 80 inside the body 112 when the bottle 110is in the closed position.

The cap 90 is advantageously rigid. The cap has an inner surface 92, anouter surface 94 and a solid part 96 in its interior. The cross sectionof the cap can be of any shape, in particular polygonal or circular.Preferably, the cross section thereof is circular.

The cap 90 is, for example, based on a plastics material, in particularpolypropylene. The cap is formed, in particular, by means of injectionor injection blow moulding. The cap can be decorated, in particular bymeans of metallisation or by other means.

The bottle 110 further includes opening and closing means 98, 118 thatare located on the cap 90 and on the body 112 of the bottle 110, theopening and closing means 98, 118 being designed to interact with oneanother so as to ensure that the bottle 110 is kept in the closedposition.

More particularly, the opening and closing means 98, 118 are located onthe inner surface 92 of the cap 90 and on the side wall 115 of the body112 of the bottle 110. Even more particularly, the opening and closingmeans 118 are located on the outer surface 116 of the side wall 115 ofthe body 112 of the bottle 110.

The opening and closing means 98, 118 include a screw system, the screwsystem comprising a tapped part located on the inner surface 92 of thecap 90 and a threaded part located on the outer surface 116 of the sidewall 115 of the body 112 of the bottle 110.

In a variant, the opening and closing means 98, 118 include a bayonetsystem (not shown). The cap 90 can in particular have a protrusion onthe inner surface 92 thereof, which protrusion is inserted in a camtrack (with or without rotation) located on the outer surface 116 of theside wall 115 of the body 112 of the bottle 110. In a variant, theprotrusion and the cam track can be inverted, i.e. the protrusion wouldbe located on the outer surface 116 of the side wall 115 of the body 112of the bottle 110, and the cam track would be located on the innersurface 92 of the cap 90.

Alternatively, the opening and closing means 98, 118 include a clipsystem (not shown), also referred to as a snap system. For this purpose,the cap 90 can in particular include an annular groove on the innersurface 92 thereof, in which groove a ring located on the outer surface116 of the side wall 115 of the body 112 of the bottle 110 is inserted.In a variant, teeth and/or slots may be used.

According to the invention, the sealing is also ensured both by theinteraction of the closing means 118 located in region of the body 112of the bottle with the complementary means located in the region of thecap 90 of the bottle, and, when the cap 90 has been attached to the body112 of the bottle using the above-mentioned closing means, by theinteraction of the cap 90 and the wiper 120.

The applicator 80 generally includes an axial rod 82 and an applicatorend piece 84. The axial rod 82 extends in a main direction oflongitudinal extension, in this case the main direction X₃, and includestwo opposing ends. On account of its end referred to as the upper end,the axial rod 82 is designed so as to rigidly connect the applicator tothe cap 90. Moreover, by means of its lower end or free end, the axialrod 82 is designed to be attached to the applicator end piece 84. Sincethe applicator is generally rigidly connected to the cap 90, theapplicator forms therewith a means for gripping the applicator. When thecap 90 is attached to the body 112 of the bottle 110, i.e. when thebottle 110 is in the closed position, the axial rod 82 and theapplicator end piece 84 extend inside the body 112 of the bottle 110.The applicator is thus immersed in the cosmetic product P contained inthe container. In order to use the applicator 80, the user detaches thecap 90 from the body 112 and removes the applicator from the container.The bottle is then in the opened position.

The rod 82 is advantageously rigid. The rod may be slightly deformed, inparticular curved, under the effect of the forces applied while applyingmake-up, as a result of the elongate shape of the rod. The rod 82 is,for example, based on a plastics material, in particular polypropylene.

Depending on the intended uses, the applicator end piece 84 may be amascara brush, a brush for applying eyeliner, a lip balm spatula, orsomething else. Indeed, although it is in particular provided forapplying mascara or eyeliner, the invention can also be used for anyother kind of cosmetic product, in particular lip balm.

The materials used for the applicator end piece 60 can be selected fromthe group comprising vegetable fibres (for example: cotton, rayon,cellulose), fibres made of a thermoplastic material (for example:polyamide, polyester, nylon), fibres made of an elastically deformablethermoplastic material (for example: elastomers, thermoplasticelastomers, vulcanised elastomers), a “sinter”, and a foam (for example:polyurethane, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyether, NBR (naturalrubber), SBR (synthetic rubber)). A “sinter” means a product obtained byconsolidation, under the action of heat, of a more or less compactgranular agglomerate, with or without fusion of one or more of thecomponents thereof. In particular, any type of applicator end piece 84that forms a mascara brush can be used here, whether the end piece ismoulded or twisted and whether it has a straight or curved core.

Moreover, the alternatives set out above can be combined withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An applicator assembly for a cosmetic product,said assembly being capable of occupying two positions, an openedposition and a closed position, said applicator assembly comprising: abottle without a neck, said bottle comprising a body intended to containthe cosmetic product, said body extending in a main direction oflongitudinal extension, and comprising a first distal end, and anopposite second proximal end in the main direction, and comprising aside wall positioned between the distal end and the proximal end, saidside wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, a wipercomprising a wiping hole, said wiper being intended to scrape the excesscosmetic product from an applicator via the wiping hole when theapplicator assembly passes from the closed position to the openedposition, said wiper having an outer surface and an inner surface,assembly means comprising at least one positioning means and at leastone means for retaining said wiper in position on the bottle, saidassembly means being intended to interact, at the proximal end of thebottle, so as to prevent a withdrawal movement of the wiper when theapplicator passes into the bottle, said inner surface of the wiper beingin direct contact with the applicator when the applicator assemblypasses from an opened position to a closed position, and said wipercomprising the assembly means.
 2. The applicator assembly according toclaim 1, wherein the positioning means is a flange on the upper part ofthe wiper intended to interact with the proximal end of the bottle, andwherein the position-retaining means is in the form of at least two finsprojecting in the region of the wiping hole, the two fins being intendedto be folded over between the outer surface of the wiper and the innersurface of the bottle in order to ensure that the wiper is retained inposition in the bottle.
 3. The applicator assembly according to claim 1,wherein the positioning means is a flange on the upper part of the wiperintended to interact with the proximal end of the bottle, and whereinthe position-retaining means has at least one technical shapingprojecting on the outer surface of the wiper, this technical shapingbeing complementary to at least one aperture positioned on the top ofthe proximal end of the body of the bottle.
 4. The applicator assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the positioning means and theposition-retaining means are in the form of a fin that both rests on theupper part of the wiper and comprises a curved end, said curved endbeing intended to interact with a complementary part provided in theregion of the outer surface of the side wall of the body of the bottle.5. The applicator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assemblymeans is a threaded/tapped assembly to allow the wiper to be screwed tothe proximal end of the bottle.
 6. The applicator assembly according toclaim 1, wherein the position-retaining means is in the form of anintermediate part intended to press and wedge the wiper against theinner surface of the side wall of the body of the bottle.
 7. Theapplicator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body of the bottleis in two parts, said two parts, namely a head and a trunk, beingseparate parts that are joined together by welding or clipping.
 8. Theapplicator assembly according to claim 7, wherein there is a sealbetween the two parts.
 9. The applicator assembly according to claim 7,wherein the wiper is positioned in the region of the head of the bottle.10. The applicator assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: anapplicator, and a cap, intended to keep the cosmetic product applicatorinside the body when the applicator assembly is in the closed position.